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PetriKey

Bacterium

Vibrio cholerae

Comma-shaped oxidase-positive rod

VIB-ree-oh KOL-er-eye

Gram negativebacteriagram-negativecurvedoxidasetoxinwater

High-yield clue

Comma-shaped rod + oxidase positivity + toxin-mediated watery diarrhea vocabulary.

Overview

A curved Gram-negative rod used to teach cholera toxin vocabulary, aquatic exposure framing, and oxidase-positive curved-rod contrast.

Classification

  • Gram-negative
  • Curved rod
  • Oxidase positive

Lab & identification clues

  • Curved rod morphology
  • Oxidase positive
  • Toxin mechanism vocabulary

Associations

  • Waterborne outbreak vocabulary
  • Cholera toxin concept
  • Public-health response framing

Commonly confused with

  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Helicobacter pylori

Frequently asked questions

What is Vibrio cholerae?

A curved Gram-negative rod used to teach cholera toxin vocabulary, aquatic exposure framing, and oxidase-positive curved-rod contrast.

What is the Gram stain of Vibrio cholerae?

Vibrio cholerae is Gram negative.

What are the lab clues for Vibrio cholerae?

Lab clues for Vibrio cholerae include Curved rod morphology, Oxidase positive, and Toxin mechanism vocabulary.

What is Vibrio cholerae commonly confused with?

Vibrio cholerae is commonly confused with Campylobacter jejuni and Helicobacter pylori.

Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.

OpenStax: Microbiology 2e organism classification foundations - sourceNCBI Bookshelf: Medical Microbiology organism chapters - sourceCDC: CDC disease and public-health topic pages - source